WEST MICHIGAN – As part of his search for "Michigan's Best
Brewery," MLive's statewide entertainment reporter John "Gonzo" Gonzalez
will check out three breweries in the Muskegon area today, Sept. 16.

He'll be accompanied by Amy Sherman, the host of "The Great
American Brew Trail," as well as representatives from Muskegon County's
upcoming breweries – Unruly Brewing, Pigeon Hill Brewing Company and Fetch
Brewing Company – who will serve as local experts.

Learn more about the breweries Gonzo will visit today and
check back to see what he thought of each spot.

Jamesport Brewing
Company

Where: 410 S.
James St., Ludington

When it opened:
March 2000

Beer info:
According to lead brewer and production manager Tom Buchanan, the brew has
about 28 beers in its portfolio, although it tries to maintain 11 on tap,
although it is expanding to 15 soon.

Buchanan said the brewery specializes in "traditional
styles" and brews a variety of beers, including ales, a lager, Kolsch and an
ESB.

The three beers that Buchanan "can't make fast enough" right
now are the Altbier and the Carr Creek IPA, he said. The Blueberry Wheat Beer
was also a big hit at the U.P. Fall Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan
Brewers Guild in Marquette earlier this month, he said.

The Altbier is a traditional German Ale with an amber color
and toffee and caramel tones and a slightly sweet finish, according to the
brewery's website.

The Carr Creek IPA gets its name from the local farm where
the hops came from, Buchanan said. He's out of those hops right now, but hopes
to replenish his stash at the end of the month, when they are harvested again,
he said.

The Blueberry Wheat Beer is an American wheat beer with a
subtle hint of blueberry, Buchanan said. He said the drink was mildly hopped
and not overly sweet.

Menu info:
Jamesport offers a full menu of brewpub food, said Paul Kruk, the head chef.
The menu includes sandwiches, salads, wraps, burgers and entrees like
beer-battered fish and chips and four-cheese chicken pasta, which are popular
menu items, Kruk said.

Ambience: Jamesport
is located inside a historic, two-story building that has been around since the
early 1900s, Buchanan said. He described the space as "very warm" with old
brick and woodwork, as well as a back porch overlooking the Port of Ludington.
The brewery's exterior is currently going through a renovation, Buchanan said.

Hours: 11:30 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday

Beer info: The brewery makes "a lot" of beers, which
rotate, Michner said. There are 22 different tap handles in the pub and the
brewery currently bottles four beers – the Citra Pale, Simco Sensation, Bean
Flicker Coffee Blonde and Me So Hoppy to Meet You – which are distributed
throughout the state.

The most popular beer at the brewery, Michner said, is the
Citra Pale Ale, which they brew all year round. It's almost like an IPA, he
said, except a little less bitter. The beer gets its name from the citra hops
used to brew it, Michner said.

"The aroma is an intoxicating bouquet of grapefruit,
tropical fruit, lemon and pine," according to the brewery's website.

Menu info: Odd
Side does not have a kitchen, so it doesn't serve food. However, patrons can
bring in food items from other establishments.

Ambience: "It's
very eclectic," Michner said. The brewery is decorated with artwork by local
artists, an assortment of chandeliers and even Jackalopes, he said. The brewery
also has a dart board and board games for patrons to use.

Hours: 2 p.m. to
10:30 p.m. from Monday through Thursday; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday;
1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday

Beer info: Old
boys has anywhere from 12 to 15 beers on tap, depending on the production
schedule and how many kegs are available, said brewer Dave Bayes.

The brewery makes a wide variety of beers, he said,
including a few different IPAs, stouts and a few lagers. The most popular beers
right now are the Dogtail IPA, the Kennel King Imperial IPA and Connor's
Kolsch.

The Dogtail IPA's "fresh, crisp hop flavor" has a "pronounced
bitterness and citrusy finish," according to the brewery's website. It has a 6
percent ABV and 69 IBUs.

The Kennel King Imperial IPA loaded with hops, specifically
Simcoe, Cluster and Amarillo. According to the brewery, the beer is a "must-try" for anyone
who is into hops. The beer has an 8.1 percent ABV and 103 IBUs.

Connor's Kolsch is a German-style golden ale that's "pretty
crisp and lighter," said Mayes. The Kolsch is also a great "intro" beer for
those who are new to craft beer, he said. The beer has a 4.8 percent ABV and 22
IBUs.

Old Boys does not bottle, Bayes said, but growlers and kegs
are available.

Menu info: The
brewery has a full menu of "good pub fare," and entrees like pizza, burgers,
burritos, fajitas, steaks and salads, Bayes said.

Ambience: Bayes
described the brewery as a dog-themed "family-friendly and appropriate
restaurant and bar." The brewery has pictures of dogs all over the place and
even sells dog treats. The space also includes a large deck right on Spring
Lake.